Local community members are encouraged to enjoy the 7th Annual National Drive Electric Week events in San Luis Obispo. From Sept 27 – Oct. 6, 2024, Drive Electric Week raises awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, bikes and more.
“The City’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2035 is one of the most ambitious in the nation,” said Chris Read, Sustainability Manager. “To achieve that goal, we are creating roadways and communities that allow folks to walk, bike and bus around town. We know many people will still choose to drive their own vehicles, and all-electric vehicles are a great way to go. Paired with our increasingly clean electricity grid, electric vehicles are much cleaner than gas vehicles, have very low maintenance costs and are fun to drive.”
The local events during National Drive Electric Week are presented by SLO Climate Coalition, Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition and SLO County Air Pollution Control District, with financial support through a Clean Air Day grant. These events include:
- Electrify Your Life EV Showcase: Electric vehicles, including a SLO Transit EV Bus, will be on display on Broad Street at Downtown SLO Farmers Market on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m.
- SLO EV Ride & Drive: an Electric Vehicle “Ride and Drive” at the Madonna Inn on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mayor Erica A. Stewart will address the attendees at noon.
Local event organizers say that each year it’s becoming increasingly clear that Electric Vehicles (EVs) are here to stay, and they represent the future of clean, pollution-free driving. Organizers say public interest is growing across geography and income levels. In-person and online events will take place during that week across the nation.
The City of San Luis Obispo is “leading by example” with its own conversion to electric vehicles, including electric buses and 21 electric fleet vehicles. The City government is also investing in new publicly accessible charging stations, with high-power fast chargers expected to be available at Johnson Park, Railroad Square, and Santa Rosa Park by the end of the year and at Calle Joaquin in early 2025.
Barry Rands, Drive Electric Week organizer for SLO Climate Coalition, added, “I think attendees will be surprised at how affordable electric vehicles have become recently. The ever-increasing supply of used EVs have led to significantly lower prices on cars that are only a few years old. And coupled with up to $11,000 in available rebates, good used EVs can be bought for well under $10,000!”
Local sponsors include SLO Climate Coalition, City of San Luis Obispo, Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition, SLO County Air Pollution Control District, Central Coast Community Energy, Madonna Inn, Citizens’ Climate Education, Ecologistics, ECOSLO, Sierra Club Santa Lucia Chapter and Cal Poly College Corps.
National organizers are Nissan LEAF, Wells Fargo, Plug In America, Electric Auto Association, The Sierra Club, Drive Electric USA and EV Hybrid Noire.